Gulf Cooperation Council Countries Have Agreed To Impose 100 Percent Customs Duty On Tobacco Products

100 percent duty on tobacco eyed in bid to curb smoking which is part of a strategy to flight smoking and curb its effects on health and economy, reports Al- Shahed daily.According to reliable sources the agreement came during a meeting in Kuwait of GCC finance and economy ministers.

The last increment of customs duties imposed on tobacco in GCC countries was in the year 2000, something that rendered the GCC countries to be among the last places in the list of countries that implement the taxation of tobacco. Meanwhile, a number of officers from the General Administration of Customs have filed complaints with the Anti-Corruption Commission accusing senior officials of negligence and failing to control smuggling issues and facilitating the release of suspects, reports Al-Qabas daily. A reliable source said that employees have filed complaints in individual capacity and not collectively.

The source noted, everyone has submitted documentary evidence to support their claims and according to one of the staff the evidence submitted by the complainants prove the involvement of a number of officials in the customs smuggling issues which is considered anti-corruption security flaws which can harm public security. The source added all the documents submitted are being examined before referring them to the Public Prosecution after verification.

 

SOURCE : THETIMES

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